Result of the sprint race for the 2024 Austrian GP

Max Verstappen was again the fastest during qualifying for the sprint race in Austria. The only driver who came close to the fastest time was Lando Norris. He was only 0.09 seconds slower while the rest of the top ten had to give up more than three tenths. Pérez was even 1.3 seconds behind his teammate. That was the speed over one lap. How fast is everyone in a 24-lap race? We now find out at the sprint race in Austria

Start of the sprint race in Austria

The 24 planned laps become 23. The first start is postponed because photographers were in a place where they were not allowed to be. Special. As soon as the camera people are gone, we can go. Max Verstappen has a particularly good start and easily keeps the lead. Furthermore, everyone passes the first round neatly. Sainz nicely overtakes Russell for P4.

The McLarens gain a lot of time on Verstappen in the second and third laps. In lap three, Norris also makes his first move, but that doesn’t get Verstappen excited. A lap later, Norris is even closer, but is well defended by the race leader. Another lap later, Norris throws his McLaren to the inside of Turn 3 and overtakes Verstappen.

But the Dutch driver is not from yesterday either and dives into the slipstream of the McLaren. Verstappen seems too far away for an action, but still dives on the inside of Norris. With a blocking wheel, Verstappen takes the lead again. The bickering between Norris and Verstappen ensures that Piastri comes side by side with his teammate and overtakes him a corner later.

Verstappen is now only competing against one McLaren

Piastri can catch up in the following laps and stay within one second of Verstappen, but the gap is still too big for an overtaking maneuver. Lando Norris drops back a bit and is even two seconds behind his teammate. By lap ten, Piastri also has to let go and loses a few tenths per lap. Norris, on the other hand, is actually closing in on his teammate. As soon as Norris enters Piastri’s DRS zone, he also drives faster lap times than Verstappen.

On lap 17, Norris is on the tail of his teammate. It’s just one point, but the egos of both drivers are now also being tested. In the meantime, Verstappen has found some pace again and drives away from the orange cars for more than three seconds. This fight will last until the end of the sprint race in Austria.

Max Verstappen adds another 8 points and wins the sprint at the Red Bull Ring. It summarizes the race as ‘spicy‘. Piastri stays ahead of his teammate while the Norris records the fastest race lap. Russell has caught Sainz back in between and is fourth. Sergio Pérez remains stuck in P8 and takes the last point.